Denbighshire

Family life changed for many in Denbighshire in the decade to 2011. Data from the census show there were changes in health and housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 94,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Denbighshire increased by 0.7%, from just under 93,100 to 93,700.

The addition of just under 700 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of Wales (up 5.5% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Denbighshire was home to, on average, 0.8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was similar to the average across Wales

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Wales, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Denbighshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Denbighshire increased by three years, from 41 to 44 years.

This remote area had a slightly higher average age than Carmarthenshire, a statistically similar local authority area (44 years of age) and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across Wales (41 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 2,900 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 3,000.

About 14% of people in Denbighshire are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Flintshire and Denbighshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in proportion of Welsh speakers

The proportion of Welsh speakers in Denbighshire fell from 26% to 25% in the 10 years leading up to Census 2011.

There are 1,304 fewer people living here who spoke Welsh compared with 2001, while the number of people who did not spoke Welsh increased by 1,746.

In nearby Flintshire, 13% of people over the age of three could speak some Welsh, down from 14% at the 2001 census. Across Wales, the proportion fell from 21% to 19%.

Monmouthshire was one of the few areas that saw an increase in the proportion of Welsh speakers (from 9.0% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011), while Carmarthenshire saw the largest fall (from 50% to 44%).

The proportion of people who could speak Welsh was higher than across Wales

Percentage of people aged three and over that that said they could speak Welsh across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Fewer married people

The proportion of married people fell in Denbighshire, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Wales.

Across Wales, the proportion of married people fell from 52% to 47% between the last two censuses, while the proportion in Flintshire fell from 55% to 50%.

In 2011, just under one in two (48%) people aged 16 and over in Denbighshire said they were married, compared with 52% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 26% to 30%.

Powys saw the next largest rise (from 55% to 51%).

The proportion of married people was higher than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were married across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The proportion of households with children fell in Denbighshire, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in Wales, except Isle of Anglesey.

During this period, Denbighshire fell below Isle of Anglesey, Swansea and Pembrokeshire to become the Wales local authority area with the eighth-lowest percentage of households with children.

In 2011, just over one in four (27%) households in Denbighshire had at least one dependent child, compared with 28% in 2001. The percentage with no children increased from 62% to 63%.

The largest increase occurred in Wrexham (from 30% to 30%).

The proportion of households with children was lower than across Wales

Percentage of households that with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

This area saw Wales' largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

During this period, Denbighshire overtook Swansea and Pembrokeshire to become the Wales local authority area with the ninth-highest percentage of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.6%) in Denbighshire reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 3.0% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.4% to 1.9%.

Neath Port Talbot saw the next largest rise (from 4.2% to 4.8%).

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Denbighshire remained close to 3.6%

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Flintshire and Denbighshire by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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